This beautiful gem receives its name from the French word for gold, péridot. However, it is also said to have gotten its name from the Arabic word for gem, faridat.
The gem forms part of the olivine family and is sourced from the peridotite rock. The peridot gemstone is found in meteorites, lava and within the earth’s mantle. This implies that some of these peridot stones are ancient, with some saying that they are a by-product of the birth of our solar system.
Adding to the mysterious appeal of this gemstone is that a robotic space probe brought back comet dust that had particles of peridot in it.
This stone even dates back to ancient Egypt to around 300 BC and was mined on an island called Zabargad on the Red Sea. They referred to the stone as the gem of the sun as a result of the beautiful yellowish-green hues. These stones were used to carve talismans. They were also collected as part of the Pharaoh’s treasury.
The ancient Romans referred to this stone as the evening emerald due to the green coloring that remains constant regardless of the lighting. Some of these stones are still on display in some of the world’s most famous museums.
